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RSPCA award for Conservative campaigner from Thames Ditton

An artist and activist was awarded one the RSPCA’s highest accolades in recognition of her work on wildlife campaigns.

Lorraine Platt, from Thames Ditton, was honoured with the Lord Erskine Silver Award in a ceremony in Whitehall on Saturday, March 1.

In 2010, Mrs Platt, a director at Conservatives against Fox Hunting, started Blue Fox to lobby Conservative MPs to retain the 2004 Hunting Act.

The RSPCA praised Blue Fox for “dispelling any myths that all Conservatives were pro-hunting and to giving those Conservatives who are against the law being repealed, the chance to be heard”.

She went on to found Blue Badger, which campaigned against the coalition’s controversial badger cull, and received high profile support from rock superstar Brian May.

Mrs Platt said: “I am very grateful to the RSPCA for honouring our work with this prestigious award. I also feel very thankful to my family, the wonderful Blue Fox team volunteers, our Blue Fox MPs, cross party MPs and our dear supporters who have made all our work possible.

“It’s sad that parts of the Conservative party are supporting such a toxic issue. It’s toxic to women voters and opposed by the majority of Conservative voters.”

The RSPCA is the world’s oldest and largest animal welfare charity and has been handing out awards celebrating the work of animal rights campaigners for 150 years.

James Yeates, chief veterinary officer of the RSPCA, said: “Lorraine has made considerable contributions to the campaign in support of the Hunting Act 2004.

“She has earned this award for her continued support and fight to keep hunting with dogs as part of British history and not part of British future.”

No stranger to receiving awards, Mrs Platt received the International Fund for Animal Welfare campaigner winner award in 2012 and was shortlisted for the inspiration awards for women in 2013.